jc staff

This show started off with a very, VERY normal premise. And a rather passive MC to boot. But apparently, this was setup to be a yuri anime. The main character’s very girly name simply stuck around and now we have another candidate for the swim team that was on Free! (Gay Swimming). I want to think it’s a smart move. While I have zero qualms with a yuri anime, it reduces its viewer base. Not everyone wants to put up with a yuri anime. Lord knows how many girls can enjoy other girls fawning over each other like they were noodles in a ramen package meant to be cooked together in a hot steamy embrace. Yes, girls are noodles. And guys are saltine crackers. (I’m not sure if I want to keep maintaining the joke. I might get too far into it, like mentioning squid flavo-… nevermind.)

However, there are more important things to discuss! Is it just me, or why does it seem like I simply haven’t been paying attention to the music world behind the cultural bombardment that is anime? The last time I discovered an amazing band via anime was through Mawaru Penguindrum. Coaltar of the Deepers, the guys behind the first ED of Mawaru Penguindrum ain’t a bunch of young ‘uns with an overprocessed sheen from some corporate pushers. CotD’s influences are pretty much my own background of music, which includes My Bloody Valentine.

So, as I sat in my chair waiting for the ED song to roll around for Witch Craft Works, I get blasted with an updated but nostalgic sound that’s way too similar to Peter Gabriel and Yellow Magic Orchestra.

I’m one to watch series for entirely unrelated reasons to the anime itself, and it appears it may happen again. Witch Craft Works, thank you for introducing me to Technoboys Pulcraft Green-Fund. They’re part of that modern mash up of the sound crafters and glitchers from the 80s and 90s. I’d love to mention a tiny hint of Merzbow being in the ED, but that an even more remote link that I’m not sure I could prove. In any case, TPG has an amazing groove not unlike the work coming out of this electronic music boom we’re experiencing here in the USA. Much of the electric and progressive music scene that was developed world-wide during the 80s and 90s comes through the ED (“Witch ☆ Activity”) of Witch Craft Works. That old school YMO sound is there, too. But if you’ve seen YMO perform recently, you’d be surprised at how appropriately modern their music is. (youtube link) It’s always been worth it to work backwards from current musical interests. There’s a giant mountain of treasure in that old soundscape. Give it a try and dig up something.

I enjoy the old school thumps of sine/square wave synthesizers. Harkens those crazy NES songs, like the one for Solstice. Yes, that badass song. Also, someone has a series of videos of a 2011 concert performance by Technoboys Pulcraft Green-Fund. (link)

Man. I sure was link heavy this time. Sorry if the links don’t work for you due to region blocking.

That top image is obviously not indicative of the whole episode’s animation, nor the entire series. But it’s already reminding me of Studio DEEN. What’s going on JC Staff? But hey, the first episode wasn’t that bad as a setup episode. It’s not as flat out wonky, but neither was it near the amount of fabulousness of Star Driver, nor the epicness of Kore wa Zombie Desu ka?. I’m also in a bit of shock to realize that Junji Majima’s voice no longer reminds me of Ryuuji, and.. well, Rie Kugimiya just sounds like nearly 80% of her previous roles, not including her obvious standouts like Alphonse from FMA or Kagura in Gintama.

But I’ve been noticing the show feels comfortable. Nothing glaring me in the face saying anything significant, so this is either a blessing or a warning.

Will you look at that? A week since the last podcast! It’s almost like we’re on schedule or something. Almost as awesome as a pumpkin slushie.. which I’ve never had. I’ve always wondered what a pumpkin slushie would taste like. Considering Cirno here in the top image is absolutely shining with happy, I think I’ll enjoy it. I also finally watched the Third Touhou M-1 Grand Prix to hear Yuyuko say Lily White’s name with an erotic voice. Dear god I nearly passed out. The podcast doesn’t reflect this, since I watched it afterward. The other topics: I cover a news bit, in which the two main character’s seiyuu in Toradora are now cast together in a Spring 2011 anime called Hidan no Aria; particularly interesting because of the staff and studio combo. Seitokai Yakuindomo‘s OAD release, Puella Magi Madoka Magica, Tamayura, and Kore wa Zombie desu ka? make up the rest of the topics. I almost completely forgot we revisit Fractalé, which takes up a big portion of the beginning of the podcast.

And them Dyson Air Multipliers. I thank ye for new jokes. Almost willing to rename the podcast to the DAMcast. Because we love Dyson Air Multipliers.

In the image above, there’s a trap. It’s the left most character in the light green sports bra. Why else would I use a header like “There’s a trap in my soup”?

In the past few years, there been an emerging population of trap characters almost every season. A large population will watch these series and fall into this trap. A typical reaction: “Wow, what a feminine character. She’s so cute, I’d fap to her. What you say! Oh god no.” Reminds me of my first experience with it. But first, there are some people who haven’t encountered a trap and don’t know what it is.

I actually had a large post ready to be uploaded, but I realized I was just typing for the sake of getting some kind of article up that was supposed to sound professional.

After a single proofread, I deleted it.

Instead, here’s a series of short sentences that describe the current anime season from the narrow viewpoint of yours truly.

K-ON! Season 2 is Kyoto Animation giving us our weekly moe blob injections. Ichiban Ushiro no Dai Maou is the sequel to Seitokai no Ichizon. Working!! is for people who either like minimal story settings or have worked in the service industry. Kaichou wa Meido-sama is our seasonal JC Staff production with lovely watercolor/pastel background scenery porn. Angel Beats has the OP with a girl playing a piano. Heroman takes place in California. B Gata H Kei has Yukari Tamura. Ookiku Furikabutte is a baseball sports anime with a competent animation team. I don’t care about Major (another baseball series). Arakawa Under the Bridge is done by SHAFT. Mayoi Neko Overrun is love, since it has loli and zettai ryouiki. House of Five Leaves is a bakery and samurai talk boxes without any actual cooking. Kiss X Sis is for perverts. Senkou no Night Raid replaced Sora no Woto.

And I think Da Capo is happening again. (Yay!)

Picture of Kanata doing it wrong done by broiler (WARNING: Link is NSFW!)